WAR DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON The MISSING AIR CREW REPORT 3974 IMPORTANT: This report will be compiled in triplicate by each Army Air Forces organization within 48 hours of the time an aircraft is officially reported missing. 1. ORGANIZATION: Location _Torretta, Italy Command or Air Force _15 th AF Group _461 st Bomb Gp (H) Squadron _766 th Bomb Sq (H) 2. SPECIFY: Place of departure _Torretta, Italy Course _350 Target _Budapest, Hungary Type of mission _Combat 3. WEATHER CONDITIONS AND VISIBILITY AT TIME OF CRASH OR WHEN LAST REPORTED: _CAVU 4. GIVE: [a] Date _13 Apr 1944 Time _12:56 Last known position _Budapest, Hungary [b] Specify whether: [X] Last sighted, [ ] Forced down, [] Seen to crash, [ ] Last contacted by radio, [] No information 5. AIRCRAFT [LOST] [BELIEVED LOST] AS A RESULT OF: [Check one only] [ ] Enemy aircraft, [X ] Enemy anti-aircraft, [] Other 6. AIRCRAFT: Type, model & series _ B-24 H AAF Serial Number _ 42-52366 7. NICKNAME OF AIRCRAFT: 8. ENGINES: Type, model & series _ P&W R-183043 AAF serial Number [a] _CP 301619 [b] _301852 [c] _301896 [d] _301953 9. INSTALLED WEAPONS: [Make, type and serial number] All Browning Cal. 50 [a] 680855 [e] 680132 [i] 1153206 [b] 680892 [f] 952160 [j] unknown [c] 680598 [g] 681434 [d] 680890 [h] 680114 10. PERSONNEL LISTED BELOW REPORTED AS: [X] Battle Casualty, [ ] Non Battle Casualty 11. NUMBER OF PERSONS ABOARD AIRCRAFT: Crew _12 ; Passengers _ 0_; Total _12_ [If more than 12 persons aboard aircraft, use separate sheet] CREW FULL NAME [Last, First, Initial] POSITION RANK, SERIAL NUMBER [1] Pilot Bauman, Charles William 1 st Lt. 0-666121 [2] CP Riker, David Noble 2 nd Lt. 0-686495 [3] Bomb Zabriskie, Edward Franklin 2 nd Lt. 0-744446 [4] Nav Ritacco, Frank Edward 2 nd Lt. 0-805203 [5] Nav Gombossy, Raymond V. (I.O.) 1 st Lt. 0-660485 [6] RWG Brindle, Alfred George T/Sgt. 11043928 [7] RO Ventresca, Michael (NMI) T/Sgt. 11044855 [8] TTG Valarde, Leopoldo (NMI) S/Sgt. 38167167 [9] BTG Bross, Edward Charles S/Sgt. 33072932 [10] TG Brzezinski, Edmund Joseph S/Sgt. 16045940 CURRENT STATUS NEXT OF KIN, RELATIONSHIP AND ADDRESS
[11] NTG Stampiek, Frank Valentine S/Sgt. 36304919 [12] LWG Stetis, Luther Alonzo Sgt. 16150194 12. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNOWLEDGE OF AIRCRAFT AND CHECK APPROPRAITE [one only] COLUMN TO INDICATE BASIS FOR SAME: NAME IN FULL RANK SERIAL No. CONTACTED BY RADIO LAST SIGHTED SAW CRASH [1] De Welles, Sgt. 12168104 X Theodore R. [2] Burrell, Henry B. S/Sgt. 34590922 X [3] Bauman, Edwin 2 nd Lt. 0-681308 X (NMI) 13. IF PERSONNEL ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED, CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: [] Parachutes were used, [ ] Persons were seen walking away from the scene of the crash, [] Other reasons [specify] 14. ATTACH PHOTOGRAPH, MAP OR SKETCH SHOWING LAST KNOWN LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT. 15. ATTACH EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF CRASH, FORCED LANDING, OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. 16. ATTACH A DESCRIPTION OF EXTENT OF SEARCH, IF ANY, AND GIVE NAME, RANK AND SERIAL NUMBER OF OFFICER IN CHARGE OF SEARCH HERE:. Date: Apr 1944 /s/ Robert A. Preciado 1 st Lt., AC, Adj. SAW FORCED LANDING
765TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) 461ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP APO 520 US ARMY I saw what seemed to be a direct flak hit on Lt. Bauman s #1 engine and fuel tank. He lost control, made a sharp turn into Lt. Mowery tearing off part of Lt. Mowery s right wing and at least one prop from either #3 or #4 engine. Lt. Bauman spun on down out of control. The last time I saw Lt. Mowery s ship it was level and seemingly descending under control. The ships passed under me to the left out of view. /s/ ROBERT K. Dyment 2 nd Lt., Air Corps. I was flying second section A Flight. I saw flak hit left wing of Bauman s ship. After being hit the ship turned on its back and fell hitting Mowery s ship. /s/ Edwin (NMI) Bauman 2 nd Lt., Air Corps. I saw the left wing from #1 engine out come off. The flak burst right under it. It was a 766 th ship. It also took another ship down with it but I couldn t see them hit the ground. /s/ Sgt. Theodore P. De Welles Ship #44 flying in #2 position of A flight was struck by a direct hit by flak on the left wing tip approximately 4 feet disintegrated. The ship immediately peeled up to the left, did a 180º turn and crashed into ship #49 which was flying #4 position in the same flight. The left wing of ship #44 struck ship #49 between the two right engines, and went into a spin. Ship #49 appeared to have lost #3 and #4 props, dropped back and went into a spin, and pulled out in level flight at about 2,000 feet above the ground. This ship may have made a crash landing north of the target. Ship #44 crashed in the target area. No chutes were visible. /s/ Robert F. Edwards
As we were over the target there was a lot of flak. There were two parachutes opened and drifted to our tail. They were still drifting the last time I saw them. They were going through the clouds. /s/ Henry B. Burrell
1 st Lt. Charles F. Bauman Mrs. Margaret S. Bauman (Wife) 633 Stewart Drive Dallas, Texas 1 st Lt. Raymond V. Gambossy Mrs. Merna N. Gambossy (Wife) 337 West Rawesaped Avenue Touhgetown, Ohio 2 nd Lt. David N. Rfger Mrs. Rex Riber (Mother) Rural Route Three Oblong, Illinois 2 nd Lt. Edward F. Zabriskie Mrs. Kathrya Zabriskie (Mother) 427 Zeleset Avenue Newark, New Jersey 2 nd Lt. Frank N. Ritasco Mrs. Ana M. Ritasco (Wife) 441 South Maple Avenue Glen Rock, New Jersey T/Sgt. Alfred G. Brindle T/Sgt. Michael Ventresca S/Sgt. Leopole Valarde S/Sgt. Edward C. Bross S/Sgt. Edmund J. Breszinski S/Sgt. Frank V. Stampick Sgt. Luther A. Stotts Mrs. Edna V. Brindle (Mother) 98 Peasset Avenue Providence, Rhode Island Mr. Brocole Ventresca (Mother) 456 Haldwia Street Waterbury, Connecticut Mr. Jerome Valarde (Father) Valarde, New Mexico Mrs. Katherine W. Bross (Wife) 4913 A Street Philidelphia, Pennsylvania Mrs. Rose Breszinski (Mother) 2426 Park Detroit, Michigan Mrs. Josephine Stampick (Mother) 506 West Charles Street Gillespie, Illinois Mrs. Janie M. Stotts (Wife) 358 Richton Avenue Highland Park, Michigan
AG 360.33 2 nd Ind. C-FEM-9 HEADQUARTERS 49 TH BOMB WING (H), APO 520, 20 April 1944. Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, APO 520, U.S. Army. /s/ J. E. M. AG 360.33 3 rd Ind. GP-m/gow HQ, FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE, APO 520, 23 April 1944. CG, NATOUSA, APO 534. Attn: Casualty Branch, AGD. 1. Personnel included in attached MAC Report were processed on consolidated BCR No. I-60, dated 22 April 1944, which was forwarded to the 30 th MRU 22 April 1944. For the Commanding General: /s/ Harold B. Neely Major, AGD Assistant AG.
766 TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 461 ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) AAF AG 360.33 APO #520, c/o PM New York, New York 18 April 1944 SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report. Commanding Officer, 461 st Bombardment Group, APO #520, c/o PM, New York, New York. 1. In compliance with Letter, 15 th Air Force, file AG 360.33 dtd. 5 January 1944, subject: Preparation of Missing Air Crew Reports, submitted herewith is Missing Are Crew Report for B-24 42-52366, 1 st Lt. Bauman, Charles W. and crew. 2. Subject crew personnel are battle casualties as defined by Paragraph 2, Section II, Circular No. 10, Headquarters, NATOUSA. 3. Battle Casualty Report forwarded your headquarters 16 April 1944. For the Squadron Commander: /s/ Robert A. Preciado 1 st Lt., AC, Adjutant 1 st Ind. LCP/rfq Headquarters, 461 st Bomb Group, APO 520, U.S. Army, 19 April 1944. CO, 49 th Bombardment Wing, APO 520, U.S. Army. Forwarded. For the Group Commander: /s/ Louis C. Pfister, 1 st Lt., Air Corps Personnel Officer